Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Update: St Louis Mask

Thanks very much indeed to professional Arabic-English translator Eric Mueller for this email, and the translation of the above article on the Saudi-based Islammemo website. Eric, I am truly grateful to you for taking the time.Archaeological crisis between Egypt and US Museum. Islammemo. Monday, 15 May 2006, 6:50pm Mecca time.An archaeological crisis has erupted between the American St. Louis Museum and the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt after the museum refused to return an Egyptian mask that was preserved for 50years to Egypt.Dr. Zahi Hawass, the General Secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt told Islammemo that "Egypt has decided to inform Interpol, the International Police Agency, that the American museum has refused to return the archaeological artifact," which he described as "unique," to Egypt. "In addition it has been decided to inform the Egyptian Public Prosecutor to take the necessary legal measures against the museum in order to secure the return ofthe unique artifact to Egypt," Hawass said.Dr. Hawass went on: "The artifact is the mask of a woman from pharaonic Egypt dating to the beginning of the XIX Dynasty. It disappeared from the Egyptian Museum after its discovery in the 1950s and was recently discovered by chance when put on display in the St. Louis Museum. Egypt gave the museum a month to return the artifact, but the institution refused todo so. After the expiry of the grace period legal measures will be taken against the museum without further consultations."Dr. Hawass added that the mask, which is covered in solid gold, is in an excellent state of preservation and belonged to a lady named Ka Nefer Nefer. She appears wearing a wig from which hang down four locks of braided hair. Around the head is a band covered with gold leaf from which hangs a lotus blossom, a flower famous among the pharaonic Egyptians.The Supreme Council of Antiquities has succeed in recovering more than 400 various ancient artifacts from several western countries, the most outstanding of which was the mummy believed to be that of Ramses I, recovered from the Michael C. Carlos Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, three years ago.

The story is also covered very usefully on the Kansas City Star, where the dispute has been put into the context of Egypt's policies, the role of Hawass as Secretary General of the SCA, and the full background to the St Louis Mask is explained: "Questionable art acquisitions have been in the news recently. New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art was pressured to return a large Greek vase to Italy, where it had been excavated. Italian authorities also brought a case against the J. Paul Getty Museum’s curator of antiquities. Jennifer Stoffel, spokeswoman for the St. Louis Art Museum, said it was not fair to lump the Nefer mask controversy in with other fights over antiquities. 'Not only are their histories unique,' she said, 'but the histories of their ownership are also unique. “Our director has often said that if it’s a stolen object, we cannot keep it here. But we don’t have enough evidence to make that decision.' As arguably the oldest treasure house of art and antiquities, Egypt has suffered more than most.

1 comment:

Anonymous
said...

"The Supreme Council of Antiquities has succeed in recovering more than 400 various ancient artifacts from several western countries, the most outstanding of which was the mummy believed to be that of Ramses I, recovered from the Michael C. Carlos Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, three years ago."

This is an interesting quote. IIRC, Egypt NEVER sought the return of this mummy, whose identity is still in doubt. The Carlos got this mummy from a defunct museum in Niagra Falls, noted a similarity to other royal mummies, and VOLUNTARILY sent it to Egypt.

Some of the things Egypt (ie Hawass) wants back are indeed doubtfully obtained by current owners. But the statue in BMFA from Giza was legally obtained, and should remain in Boston.

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